Graduate Programs in Biology

Our inclusive curriculum prepares you to succeed at the next level of your career, whether that's working in an a biomedical research lab, an environmental testing lab, or a local, state, or federal agency such as the Centers for Disease Control or the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree

Virtual Open House

Thursday, May 2, 2024: 5-6:30 p.m.

Join us at one of our upcoming virtual Graduate School Open House events on Zoom! You'll have the opportunity to learn more about Western Carolina University,  understand the Graduate School application process, and meet key program representatives.

Register Today

Completing an M.S. in Biology requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate study, including a 3- to 6-hour thesis. An oral defense of the thesis is required.

Catalogs and application for admission, fellowships, or assistantships are available online from the Graduate School. Tuition waivers and teaching assistantships with a stipend of possible total yearly support ranging from $13,000 to $19,000 are awarded on a competitive basis to graduate students in Biology.

How to Apply

To be eligible for consideration, the applicant should have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 (out of 4.00) or higher and an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Biology or related life science from an accredited College or University for consideration of full admission.

Application materials:  a statement including the names of two WCU faculty members whose research is of interest; three letters of reference; official transcripts.  Applicants may submit GRE scores if they wish, but submitting GRE scores is not required.

Prospective graduate students are encouraged to apply to the Graduate School early.  Decisions on admissions and assistantships are usually made in spring for the following term.

Application Deadlines

• Fall admission: March 1 to be given priority, but applications reviewed until August 1
• Spring admission: November 1 to be given priority, but applications reviewed until January 1

Research Opportunities

WCU’s proximity to five national forests, two national parks, and some of the highest biodiversity in the world gives our program natural laboratories for ecological and organismal resesarch. Additionally, the Biology Department's mammalian cell culture facility, its microscopy imaging facility, its DNA sequencers and other biochemistry instrumentation, and its association with WCU's Forensic Science lab offer outstanding research opportunities for graduate students interested in genetics and physiology. Biology's Graduate Student Research page lists current and past projects.

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